A Sumner County jury convicted Joseph Anthony Scrofne of premeditated first-degree murder after prosecutors said he admitted smothering and strangling his 81-year-old wife.
PORTLAND, Tenn. – An 83-year-old Tennessee man has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him of the premeditated first-degree murder of his 81-year-old wife inside their Portland home.
Joseph Anthony Scrofne was convicted following a three-day jury trial in Sumner County, according to District Attorney General Thomas Dean’s office. Prosecutors said Scrofne initially claimed his wife, Linda “Carole” Scrofne, had fallen during the night before admitting the following day that he had decided to kill her.
- Joseph Anthony Scrofne, 83, was convicted of premeditated first-degree murder in the January 2025 death of his wife.
- Prosecutors said Scrofne admitted first trying to smother his wife with a pillow before strangling her with a rope.
- Judge Jennifer S. Nichols immediately imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
Investigators Questioned Husband’s Story About Wife’s Death
Deputies with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office responded to the couple’s Portland home after Scrofne reported finding his wife dead.
Scrofne initially told investigators that his wife had fallen during the night, according to prosecutors. Deputies, however, observed injuries they believed were inconsistent with that account and continued investigating her death.
The following day, prosecutors said Scrofne admitted to Detective Phillip Douglas that he had made the decision to kill his wife.
According to the district attorney’s account of the confession, Scrofne said he first attempted to smother his wife with a pillow. When she fought back, he retrieved a rope and strangled her.
Prosecutors said Scrofne also explained his motive to investigators, expressing a belief that his wife would eventually be placed in a nursing home.
He told investigators he believed she would be sent to a facility where, as prosecutors described his statement, “she would be given oatmeal until she died.”
Jury Convicts Scrofne of Premeditated First-Degree Murder
Assistant District Attorneys Tara A. Wyllie and Christopher V. Boiano prosecuted the case during the three-day trial.
After hearing the evidence, the jury found Scrofne guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in the death of his wife.
Judge Jennifer S. Nichols immediately imposed the mandatory life sentence following the verdict, according to the Sumner County District Attorney General’s Office.
The district attorney’s office credited Detectives Phillip Douglas, Reed Pasley and Ron Brawner of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, TBI Special Agent Devyn Ramsey and Lt. Beau Summers of Sumner County EMS for their work on the case.
Prosecutors also thanked Linda Scrofne’s family for assisting with the prosecution and Victim-Witness Coordinator Sally Ann Pirtle for supporting the family and witnesses throughout the case.
Joseph Anthony Scrofne was convicted of first-degree murder.
A Sumner County jury found the 83-year-old guilty of the premeditated murder of his wife, Linda “Carole” Scrofne.
Scrofne initially told investigators his wife had fallen.
Prosecutors said investigators found injuries inconsistent with that explanation, and Scrofne admitted the following day that he had killed her.
Scrofne was sentenced to life in prison.
Judge Jennifer S. Nichols imposed the mandatory life sentence immediately after the jury returned its guilty verdict.
Sources: Office of Sumner County District Attorney General Thomas Dean, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office
